Method and system to decouple steam pressure from temperature to control shear imparted on product flow

Abstract

A cooking system for cooking a product flow utilizing steam. A supply of steam is provided at a supply pressure that is regulated by a control unit to a regulated pressure. The supply of steam is provided to a plurality of steam injection cookers which are positioned within a product supply pipeline that receives a product flow. The product flow is cooked as the product flow passes through the product supply pipeline and the plurality of cookers. Each of the steam injection cookers includes a steam modulator that controls the amount of steam injected. By regulating the steam pressure and the steam modulator, the control unit can modify the amount of shear created within the product flow and control the temperature of the fluid. The cooking system further includes a clean-in-place system that can inject a cleaning solution into the steam supply pipeline and the plurality of steam injection cookers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of cooking a product flow using steam, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a supply of steam at a supply pressure; 
 regulating the supply of steam to a regulated steam pressure to provide a regulated supply of steam at the regulated steam pressure to a steam supply pipeline; 
 receiving the regulated supply of steam at the regulated steam pressure at a steam inlet of at least one steam injection cooker; 
 receiving a product flow in a product supply pipeline having a product input and a product output; 
 receiving the product flow from the product supply pipeline at a product input of the at least one steam injection cooker; 
 measuring a pressure of the product supply flow; and 
 providing a control unit operable to adjust the regulated steam pressure, the pressure of the product flow and a steam modulator within the at least one steam injection cooker to control the pressure differential between the pressure of the product supply flow at the product input of the at least one steam injection cooker and the regulated steam pressure at the steam inlet of the at least one steam injection cooker. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the control unit is operable to control the operation of a steam pressure control valve positioned to receive the supply of steam and the steam modulator. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of positioning a back pressure control valve near an output of a product supply pipeline, wherein the control unit is operable to control the back pressure control valve to control the pressure of the product flow received at the product input of the at least one steam injection cooker. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of connecting a cleaning solution supply line including a supply of cleaning solution to clean a steam supply pipeline connected to the at least one steam injection cookers. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating an outflow valve located at the outlet of the product supply pipeline to control the flow direction of the product flow leaving the outlet of the product supply pipeline. 
     
     
       6. A method of cooking a product flow using steam, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a supply of steam at a steam pressure control valve at a supply pressure; 
 operating the steam pressure control valve to provide a regulated supply of steam at a regulated pressure to a steam supply pipeline; 
 receiving the regulated supply of steam at the regulated pressure at a steam inlet of each of a plurality of steam injection cookers; 
 receiving a product flow in a product supply pipeline having a product input and a product output; 
 receiving the product flow from the product supply pipeline at a product input of each of the plurality of steam injection cookers; 
 positioning a product pressure sensor in the product supply pipeline; 
 measuring the pressure of the product supply flow with the product pressure sensor; and 
 providing a control unit operable to adjust the steam pressure control valve and a steam modulator within each of the plurality of steam injection cookers to control the pressure differential between the pressure of the product supply flow within the product supply pipeline and the regulated pressure of the supply of steam. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the control unit is operable to control the operation of the steam pressure control valve positioned to receive the supply of steam and the steam modulator. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of operating a back pressure control valve positioned near an output of a product supply pipeline to control the pressure of the product flow received at the plurality of steam injection cookers. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the control unit is operable to control the differential pressure between the regulated pressure of the supply of steam and the regulated pressure of the product flow. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of connecting a cleaning solution supply line including a supply of cleaning solution to clean a steam supply pipeline connected to each of the plurality of steam injection cookers. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of operating an outflow valve located at the outlet of the product supply pipeline to control the flow direction of the product flow leaving the outlet of the product supply pipeline. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6  wherein the product supply pipeline includes a plurality of S-shaped connecting portions each positioned between a product output of one of the plurality of steam injection cookers and a product input of another of the plurality of steam injection cookers. 
     
     
       13. A method of cooking a product flow using steam, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a supply of steam at a steam pressure control valve at a supply pressure; 
 operating the steam pressure control valve to provide a regulated supply of steam at a regulated pressure to a steam supply pipeline; 
 receiving the regulated supply of steam at the regulated pressure at a steam inlet of at least one steam injection cooker; 
 receiving a product flow in a product supply pipeline having a product input and a product output; 
 receiving the product flow from the product supply pipeline at a product input of the at least one of steam injection cooker; 
 positioning a product pressure sensor in the product supply pipeline; 
 measuring the pressure of the product supply flow with the product pressure sensor; and 
 providing a control unit operable to adjust the steam pressure control valve and a steam modulator within the at least one steam injection cooker to control the pressure differential between the pressure of the product supply flow within the product supply pipeline and the regulated pressure of the supply of steam. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of operating a back pressure control valve positioned near an output of a product supply pipeline to control the pressure of the product flow received at the at least one steam injection cooker. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13  wherein the control unit is operable to control the back pressure control valve to control the differential pressure between the regulated pressure of the supply of steam and the regulated pressure of the product flow.